Renderings have been released for a Santiago Calatrava-designed observation tower in Dubai that, according to developers, will be a “notch taller” than the world’s tallest building.
Calatrava worked with Emaar Developments to design the tower of Dubai Creek Harbour. Though an exact height hasn’t been announced, it is slated to be taller than Dubai’s 2,717-foot Burj Khalifa.
The tower will have a slender stem and a oval-shaped bulb at the top. It will have rotating balconies and 10 observation decks, including the The Pinnacle Room, which will provide 360-degree views of the city. Two garden decks will recreate the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Its shape is inspired both by minarets, the distinctive spire featured in Islamic culture, and by flower buds. Cables will link the building to the ground, which is intended to look like the ribbing of a lily’s leaves. The bud at the top of the tower will light up at night.
“This project is an artistic achievement, inspired by the goal of making this space a meeting point for citizens, not only from Dubai and the UAE but all across the world,” Calatrava said in a statement. “It is a symbol of belief in progress."
Click image to enlarge.
Water collected from a highly-efficient cooling system will clean the structure’s façade. A museum, auditorium, and retail spaces are planned for the base of the tower.
“It integrates not just design excellence but also strong environmental and smart-tech considerations,” Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, said in a statement. “With the tower, we are delivering a compelling destination that will add long-term economic value to Dubai and the Emirates.”
According to Curbed, Emaar Developments estimated that the tower would cost $1 billion, and that the goal is for it to be completed by the 2020 World Expo that will be held in Dubai.
Click image to enlarge.
Click image to enlarge.
Click image to enlarge.
Click image to enlarge.
Related Stories
Office Buildings | Apr 2, 2024
SOM designs pleated façade for Star River Headquarters for optimal daylighting and views
In Guangzhou, China, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has designed the recently completed Star River Headquarters to minimize embodied carbon, reduce energy consumption, and create a healthy work environment. The 48-story tower is located in the business district on Guangzhou’s Pazhou Island.
High-rise Construction | Feb 23, 2024
Designing a new frontier in Seattle’s urban core
Graphite Design Group shares the design for Frontier, a 540,000-sf tower in a five-block master plan for Seattle-based tech leader Amazon.
Luxury Residential | Feb 1, 2024
Luxury 16-story condominium building opens in Chicago
The Chicago office of architecture firm Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC) yesterday announced the completion of Embry, a 58-unit luxury condominium building at 21 N. May St. in Chicago’s West Loop.
Biophilic Design | Jan 16, 2024
New supertall Manhattan tower features wraparound green terraces
At 66 stories and 1,031.5 ft high, The Spiral is BIG’s first supertall building and first commercial high-rise in New York.
Products and Materials | Nov 30, 2023
Top building products for November 2023
BD+C Editors break down 15 of the top building products this month, from horizontal sliding windows to discreet indoor air infusers.
Senior Living Design | Nov 7, 2023
Age-restricted affordable housing community opens in Rockville, Md.
Residences on the Lane boasts a total of 150 units, each designed to cater to various income levels for seniors aged 62 and up.
Luxury Residential | Oct 18, 2023
One Chicago wins 2023 International Architecture Award
One Chicago, a two-tower luxury residential and mixed-use complex completed last year, has won the 2023 International Architecture Award. The project was led by JDL Development and designed in partnership between architecture firms Goettsch Partners and Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture.
Office Buildings | Oct 16, 2023
The impact of office-to-residential conversion on downtown areas
Gensler's Duanne Render looks at the incentives that could bring more office-to-residential conversions to life.
Office Buildings | Sep 28, 2023
Structural engineering solutions for office-to-residential conversion
IMEG's Edwin Dean, Joe Gulden, and Doug Sweeney, share seven key focuses for structural engineers when planning office-to-residential conversions.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2023
Top 115 Architecture Engineering Firms for 2023
Stantec, HDR, Page, HOK, and Arcadis North America top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture engineering (AE) firms for nonresidential building and multifamily housing work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
